Market the Future!

Hello avid readers!! *cricket cricket*

...Ahem. Soon I'll be guest-posting on my new favorite marketing blog, Market the Future, about Gaming and Tech new. So if you just can't get enough of my sarcastic wit, hop on over there to absorb more of the good stuff.
 

 Their blog is very classy! ...Like a Victorian prostitute's table manners!

But do not fear my friends, I shall continue to post breaking game news and design concepts here. Up next: Battlefield: Bad Company 2!

PlayStation Move vs. Xbox Natal

As someone who's been watching both the PS3 and Xbox 360 closely for the addition of motion controls, I have to say these are very exciting times! Just announced yesterday, the PlayStation "Arc" has been renamed to the "Move". Also presented at GDC was the "nunchuck" type addition added with it and spec's of the controller as well (it glows different colors!).

 This is the new PS3 "Move" Motion Controller... not a sex toy.

 
When compared to "Project Natal" this does seem much more realistic and dependable. In the videos below you can see that the Natal has lag, and the Move does not. Not to mention the Move has buttons and Natal will still expect you to use the Xbox 360 controller for the majority of game controllers.

How can Microsoft win this fight? I think if they are successful in creating a photo-realistic simulation with full body tracking (like "Milo"), then they might achieve the momentum they need to build bigger and better games that help the industry grow more mature. If not though, I predict PlayStation will win simply because everyone likes holding something physical (*wink*wink*) and no one likes lag. Postulations, be the judge for yourself, which one will win?

Project Natal: Gameplay Footage
by GamersMOTION

Half Life 2: Episode 3 - Concept Art Leaked?

Update (3/10/10): It's a great big phoney!

Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up to the party! Our ol' friend Gordon Freeman!! Just leaked was this piece of concept art from Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

Something tells me City 17 is going to have a lot of mold issues.

Although not confirmed, this piece does seem to have a similar style to the recently released concept art from Valve:

 In the future, everything is pointy and wants to kill you.

Someone smell an announcement coming on? Anyone think we'll be able to play this one by Christmas??

original source: www.digitalbattle.com

Heavy Rain - Press and hold (▲) for... MURDER!

My greatest fear when choosing to play this game was that the whole thing was going to be a long QTE (Quick Time Event). I can gladly say after many hours... that this game is in fact only 50% QTE's. The other 50% is spent awkwardly walking around.

Over the course of the game you find yourself controlling the choices of 4 individuals: Madison the photographer, Ethan the father, Jayden the FBI agent, and Scott the Private-Eye detective. The story revolves around the Origami Killer and the murders that transpire.
 

 Scott, Madison, Ethan, and Jayden. You get to see 2 of them naked... O_o

 
I played through about twice and found it to be very well constructed. The voice acting is top-of-the-line and the level design and art direction is not unlike a A+ Hollywood movie. I mean you can eat and use the restroom in EVERY house! What a concept!! I was disappointed when I didn't get a trophy for doing so though.

I found my share of plot holes and glitches (naked Madison glitch anyone?), but nothing that prevented me from rebooting and continuing to be dazzled. The developers called this game an "Interactive Drama". I find this interesting in the fact that the title admits a certain amount of un-interactiveness. This must be why this phrase is missing from the marketing for this game. On the topic of marketing, I'm also wondering why this didn't release this as an "Adult Only" title. Doing so would have really helped help push the genre forward and given it some flexibility to show just a little more gore (I'm not asking for arterial spray or anything. But when a limb is severed, is it too much to ask to SEE it?? Plus we could have gotten full frontal nudity!). But I can understand that doing so would alienate a large population of potential buyers such as teens and children. Btw if you buy this game for a child, there's something wrong with you. Titles aside though, this was a great game full of twists and turns and continues to have a lot of replay value, especially considering the forthcoming DLC ("The Taxidermist") and excellent narrative structure they have in place.
 

Buy the game or the puppy gets it!!  

Heavy Rain - Moist and loving it!

I just finished Heavy Rain last night and I have to say... it was an exciting adventure I'll not soon forget! I'm going to play through again tonight just to be bad (muahahahaha). So until I return, enjoy this picture.
 

 

Hmmm... should I strip or save my dignity??

Metal Gear Solid 4 - Part 2

Over the last week I finished MGS4, only to find myself... unsatiated and confused. Evidently I was not as versed in the MGS lore as I perceived and was slowly mind boggled as I played the last 4 acts of the game. All in all though, my initial assertions mostly held true. The soundtrack and action were fantastic. The story was convoluted, long, and had several uninteresting tangents. Also, it seemed to end without closure for all characters. I'm not saying I want to know what happens to every NPC (although that hairless monkey did intrigue me), but when we spend hours with a seemingly useless character, some closure would be nice. The levels and boss fights were amazing and really made for great sequences. But unlike the original MGS bosses, not much time was used to characterize these barbaric "beauties".

Farewell Snake, you chain-smoking, cardboard toting, mustache growing badass.

 
In conclusion, play MGS4, beat it, and be confused. It's worth it.

Snake: What was that noise!?!     Octocon: That was just me crying again.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - Part 1

After many years of waiting I finally got my hands on the PS3 Exclusive: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. As an avid MGS fan since the PS1, I've been anxious to give this sequel a try since completing the fantastic prequel, MGS3: Snake Eater. The game is divided into 'Acts' and last night I completed the first one, "Liquid Sun".

Snake has a mustache... I don't know why yet...

Presentation wise there probably aren't many games that can match the cinematic qualities and level design of a Metal Gear Solid title. Destroyed urban cities, military camps, and forest trails all have a realistic feel as if digitized straight from Google Earth. While mostly linear in nature, the designers have done a great job twisting and curving level paths to make the experience of sneaking through a middle eastern city quite varied.

Cinematics, which Hideo Kojima is quite famous for, are riveting as usual and try to keep the player engaged with occasional button events such as showing different angles (L1) and showing flashbacks (X). Although both of these events are neither particularly interesting or useful in any way.

Characterization seems to be paramount this time around, as we seem to get more than we asked for about the Colonel, Meryl, and voice-overs done by Snake which tend to feel stale and lofty at times. There are several new and old friends, a few creative villains, and a gun "launderer" with a hairless(?) monkey. But at this point they have mostly just been introduced and I plan on not spoiling any surprises they may or may not reveal.

The new Game Mechanics of the OctoCamo, Mk.II, Gun Customization and Solid Eye give a much needed health boost to the aging gameplay. The OctoCamo is easy to use and amazing in action, The Mk.II is a great scouting tool, and the Solid Eye will give you something close to the classic map view to aid you in your missions.

This is the MKII. He likes OctoCamo and slow walks on the beach.

Audio is easily the best quality of this game. The composers (Harry Gregson-Williams and Nobuko Toda) have done a phenomenal job of capturing the sound of a tense, sneaking situation and the excitement of all-out action. Sound effects are superb causing you to instantly seize up when you accidentally kick a glass bottle or bump a metal can. And the distinct ambiance of a far off battle will keep you alert and wondering what's around the next corner.

So far MGS4 has proven to uphold its predecessors level of action, atmosphere, and presentation. What it seems to lack thus far is the mystique and draw of a new, exciting narrative with a quicker pace. There's been too many slow philosophical sit-downs about "war" and not enough of... something I imagine the player would actually care about. I will stick with Snake to the end, so here's to hoping the next Act is full of rapid fire plot twists and some boss fights!

FoxDie may cause sporadic ear hair and mustache growth. 

If your symptoms last longer than 4 hours, please consume a ration; Thank you.

PS3 Ahoy!

I finally got my PS3 in the mail, after many a UPS debacle, and have begun my journey into the PlayStation Network.

I have to say so far, I like it more than the Xbox Live scene. The menu and marketplace just feels cleaner, futuristic, and active. I also gave "PS3 Home" a try and found it pretty addictive. 2 hours later I made a couple friends and played a few free minigames inside the virtual rooms. I even bought myself a Dead Space suit just to stick out a little. And stick out I did! All in all, PS3 Home is not half bad and I would definitely prefer it to a text-based chat room any day.


Perpetually doing 'The Robot'

Breaking the Dry Spell

My beautiful wife has inspired me by starting a blog and so, I shall once again pick up the pencil (or in my case, dust off the keyboard) and write. But first, a few loose ends:

• Gears of War 2 - Great graphics, cool premise, sweet multiplayer, strange story.
  
• Dead Space - AWESOME game. Love the cheap scares and the interesting weapons.
  
• Mirror's Edge - My personal game of the year. Ending sucked, but it has a lot of potential for the future.
  
• Fable 2 - Fun, clever, but it has a horrible multiplayer and zero after-play value.
  
• Braid - Confusing story, great use of time manipulation. Very addictive.
  
• Crysis -Didn't finish it, but loved where the story was going. Gorgeous level design and huge environments.
  
• Burnout Paradise -As someone who isn't a racing fan, this has to be the best car game I've ever played. Loads of replay value, online play is solid, and plenty of DLC.
  

Whew! There we go. I think I'll take a break from old games and focus on new ones. About 3 months ago I got GameFly and I've had the chance to play a lot of newer releases. Hopefully soon I'll get the next game in my queue: Mass Effect 2.

Pants on the ground, pants on the ground